Viability studies to start on plans to transform cycling in Oxford (From Oxford Mail)

Viability studies to start on plans to transform cycling in Oxford

12:00pm Saturday 4th August 2012 in Oxford By Damian Fantato, covering Summertown, Jericho and North Oxford. Call me on 01865 425429

VIABILITY studies will soon be under way into multi-million pound cycling projects that will change the face of the city.

Oxford City Council has already set aside £800,000 to improve life for bike users over the next four years.

But its long-term vision includes more radical projects, including £4.2m on building one Thames bridge between Oxpens and Osney Mead and another bridge at Jackdaws Lane in East Oxford Viability studies into these proposals will be carried out as part of the first four-year phase of the cycling city project.

In addition to the river crossings, there is a proposal for a city cycle hub, including indoor cycle parking with changing rooms at the Westgate Centre as part of its redevelopment and a canal crossing between Jericho and Oxford Station.

Colin Cook, the city council’s board member for city development, said his officers would be looking into these long-term aspirations.

He said: “We are aware of the amount of money it is going to cost and they are going to be more difficult to deliver. But it will give more opportunities and better facilities to encourage more people to use their bikes.”

Funding for the rest of the scheme, as well as the initial feasibility work for these long-term projects, will be coming from several sources.

The city council will be spending £100,000 from its capital budget in the first two years of the scheme with a further £50,000 in the two years after that.

From its revenue budget the city council will be spending £10,000 a year over the four years of the scheme.

Meanwhile a further £500,000 will be coming from section 106 money which is paid to the authority by developers to make improvements to the local infrastructure.